Envelope-making machine



Aug. 16,1927.

J. M. TOWNSEND ENVELOPE KING MACHINE Filed llay 1.5. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- Aug; 16, 1927.

J. MITQWNSEND ENVELOPE mime lacuna Filed May 15. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. M. TOWNSEND ENVELOPE KING CHINE Filed lay 15. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l6 1 I Aug 927 J. M. TOWNSEND ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 15. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO TOWNSEND ENVELOPE MACHINE COMPANY,'A CORPORA- TION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE-MAKING 'MAG HINE.

Application filed May 15, 1924. Serial No. 713,635.

This invention relates to envelope making machines and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to automatic machines for feeding'and forming an envelope blank and discharging the finished envelope from the machine. 7

It is one of the important objects of the invention to greatly increase the speed of production of machines of the class mentioned.

.Another object of the invention is to produce an envelope in which the lapped flaps are etlectively secured thereby reducing to a minimumthe nunrber of rejections on this account and consequently, taken with increased speed of production, further increasing the quantity of envelopes produced in a given time.

Still another object to so feed, hold and fold the blanks passing through the machine that the envelopes are uniformly folded, properly creased and effectively gummed, with simple and, reliably operative mecha-.

nism which converts the flat blanks into com-,

pleted envelopes at an extremely high rate per hour.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out particularly hereinafter.

The inventionaccordingly consists in various features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which wi ll be exemplified y the construction hereinafter set'forth and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of the invention:

l igure l is a longitudinal elevation, partly in scction, ot the front portion of the envelope making machine, showing particularnthe envelope holding, pressing and folding mechanisms with their various operating controls.

Figure is a longitudinal elevation of the center and rear portions of the machine, .y in sectiomshowing the envelope blank selecting, feeding and gumming Figure 3 is a cross section through the front portion of the machine, showing particularly the folding, pressing and ejecting mechanisms. Y

Figure 4: is a plan of the front portion of the machine, showing,particularly the gumming, registering, holding and ejecting mechanisms' Figure 5 is. a detail view showing the mechanism for controlling the operation of the claw in the blank selecting mechanism.

In the machine which is shown in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the invention, various rotary devices are em: ployed for selecting, feeding, registering, gumming and discharging. the envelope blanks. There arealso certain blank holding devices and presser means for the blanks, which are operated in reciprocatory fashion and co-operatively associated with the rotary devices in timed relation so as to hold one of the blanks during the operation of certain folders which move into and out of position to fold and crease the flaps of the blank, forming the same in the shape. of an envelope and lapping certain previously gummed portions of the blank flapswhich are then acted upon by the presser to secure the folded flaps at their gummed portions orseams. v a V v I 1 The general operation of the machine whichis shown herein as a preferred embodiment is as follows A stack or bank of envelope blanks is disposed in a suitable container at the, rear of the machine. stack is selected and drawn from the stack to present it to the action of rotary feeding devices which carry it preferably in a substantially straight line horizontal direction through the machine under certain gumming de 'ices, which operate to affix an adhesive, until the blank is caused toengage registration mechanism which latter movesinto and out of position at proper times to locate the blank at the folding station. At this station there are provided holding means and folding means. There is also a presser which cooperates with the blank holder to set the The foremost blank of the seams of the folded blank. After the folding and pressing operations have been completed an ejector operates, positioned and timed to act upon the blank to carry it away from the folding station.

For convenience in description the various co-related mechanisms will be separately treated in the sequence of their operation rea Parti ula blan Fmme and main dm'm'ng parts.

The frame of the machine comprises a horizontal table and suitable uprights 11 having journal bearings 12 for a main driving shaft 13. In the embodii'nent shown all of the operating devices, except the suction pump, are supported on or by this frame comprising the table 10 and uprights 11 with suitable journal hearings in the form of ears or lugs projecting from the table or the uprights, and preferably cast integral therewith; Thesuc'tion'pump may be independently mounted on a flooring which also supports the metal frame.

The'main driving shaft 13 has fixed thereon several cams (see Fig. l) a cam A for operating a portion of the folding mechanism, a cam B for operating a suction holding block, cams C and D for operating other portions of the folding mechanism and a cam E which operates a presser. There is also a cam X on the main driving shaft which controls the action of a distributor in the airline tothe suction holding block, timing this distributor to open the line when alien velope blank has been registered over the suction block. The main driving shaft carries a beveled gear 15 which meshes with a beveled pinion 17 at the lower end of a shaft 19, which shaft intermediate its ends is connected by spiral gearing indicated at 21 (see Fig. 2) to a shaft 23 journaled in suitable bearings extending from the table 10. By beveled gear indicated at 25 the shaft :23 is connected to a shaft 27, the upper end of which is provided with a pinion 29 which meshes witlia beveled gear 31 on a shaft 33. Theshaft 33 carries the gum roller which will be later described in detail. At the lefthand end of the shaft 33 as seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is a spiral gear 35 which meshes with another spiral gear 37, the latter being fixed on the end ofv shaft 39 and connected at its other end through spiral gearing 4E1 with a sleeve 43 on a vertically disposed rod a5. This sleeve 13 carries an ejector which will be later described in detail. The shaft 19 is connected at its upper end through bevel gearing 44, with a shaft 63 for apurpose which will later appear, and it is 'tobe understood that all of the operating devices of the'machine obtain their driving pbwer primarily from the main driving shaft 13'. In some casesthe specific connecti'ons are not shown inthe drawings as it is well understood how machines of this general character may have their different operating devices connected in such a way as.

to be driven all in timed relation from the mam driving shaft.

Stack holder and selector.

Eiupported at one end of the horizontal table 10 in any suitable way is a holder 51 fora stack 'or' bank'o'f envelope as indicated 111 mg 2' at .53. tr uewer 54 is employed to hold'tlie blanks m'a'c'oiiipact stack with the front face of the foremost blank registering against a wall 55. The blanks are supported on edge by'spaced plates 57 with the extended portions which go to make up the front flap of the envelope away from the remainder of the stack and against the peripheries of rotating disks of a selector. This selector comprises three disks mounted on a shaft 63. 'One of the disks indicated at 64- is provided with a cutaway portion 65 and a pivoted claw 67 which is iin'ied to more on so that it will grip the selected blank by reason ofengagement with the rear surface of the foremost blank which has been pulled over so that its front surface engages the periphery of the diskfi-it; On either side of the disk 6 1 there are disks 71 mounted on the shaft 63 to serve as guides or supports for the selected blank as is withdrawn from the stack. The operat'- ing mechanism for the pivoted claw is shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and conof a cam 73 actuating a roller 75. The cam 73 is fixed to the frame of the machine and causesthe roller 7 5 to be inovjed around a pivot 77 which is in the 'form of a' pin projecting from a disk 79 fixed 0n the shaft 63. This is by reason of the fact that the roller is on the endof a short lever 81 which is mounted on the pin 77. The lever 81 is provided with an extension beyond the roller 75 which is formed with a segmental gear 33 taken on a radius from the center. of pin 77. The segmental gear 83 meshes with a pinion 85 fixed on the pin 69 which carries the claw 67. The lever'8l is provided with ill) another extension beyond the pivot point'77.

and between this extension 87 and the ,fixed post 89 extending from the disk 79there is a spring 91 tending to return the roller 75 to the low points of the cam 73. This mechanism is timed to operate to rotate the claw 67 into gripping relation with the periphery of the disk 64 just after the suction device has withdrawn the lower end of the foremost blank from the stack, so that from the suction device the blank will becarried by the claw 67 first in a downward direction and then forward to introduce the blank to the feeding mechanism;

-The mechanismfor operating the suction force'connected with the suction tube59 is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises two cams 93 and 94 mounted on the shaft 63, adj acentthe cam 73, the cam 93 being engaged by a cam roller R attached to the lower end of a spring actuated rod95, mounted on the frame of the machine and controlling a valve V in the inlet pipe 96 leading to the suction tube 59. The suction tube 59 with its inlet pipe 96 is mounted on a pivot 97 carried by the frame of the machine, on which is also mounted a lever 98 provided midway with a lug 99, to which the suction tube 59 is attached, and provided further at its upper end with a spiral spring attached to the frame of the machine, and at its lower end with a cam roller S engaging the cam 94.

The mechanism is timed to open the valve V, when the cam roller R engages a cutaway portion 100 on the cam93, thereby lowering the rod 95, opening the valve V and applying the suction force, while during that interval the cam 94- is timed to engage the cam roller S and to push forward to its operative position the suction tube 59 by the forward movement of the lever 98. lVhen the cam roller R has passed entirely out of the cutaway portion 100 to the periphery of the cam 93 the rod 95 is pushed upward and the valve V closed, previous to which the cam roller S following the periphery of the cam 94 carries back the lever 93 and the suction tube 59 with a blank adhering to the suction tube 59, until the suction force is stopped by the action of the cam 93and the blank picked up by the selector, as previously described, when the suction tube 59 is returned to its inoperative position, I

Feeding mechanism.

From the selector the blank is passed over idler rollers 101 between the upper and lower guides 102 and 103 respectively to feed rollers 104 and 105. The rollers 105 are positively driven, whereas, the rollers 104 are located to retain a position where they will bear by gravity on the top of rollers 105. A shaft 107 carries the rollers 105 and this shaft is driven by a chain and sprocket connection from a shaft 109, which in turn is driven by a similar chain and sprocket connection from a shaft 111. The gumming roll shaft 33-carries a spur gear 113 which mesheswith a spur pinion on the shaft 111, and also meshes with a pinion 115 which drives the upper roller 117 of a pair of small feed rollers 117 and 119. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings that the last mentioned feed roller pair is arranged close to the gumming device, and this is the feeding mechanism which directly introduces the en-' velope blankto theaction of the gumming roller 133. y

it is to be further noted that the various feed rollers 104, 105, 117 and 119 are grouped in spaced, opposed pairs on their respective shat ts.

.The gumming roller 133 is mounted on the sh a ft 33, which is journalcd in the standards 134, while below the gumming roller 133 the roller 131 is located, which is mounted on the shaft 111, as is shown particularly in Figs. 1 and I As the envelope blank passes from the feed rollers 117 and 119 the blank is fed between the gumming roller 133 and the roller 131, as will be hereinafter described. The gumming roller 133 is provided with two arcuate members 135 attached to the roller 133 each arcuate member 135 has mounted there by clamping bands 137, while I on a pad 139 held in position thereon by strips 141 engaging longitudinal slots in the sides of the pad 139, as shown in Figs. 1 and Surniounting each pad 139 is a gumming strip 143, which is raised slightly above the pad 139 and is V-shaped in plan in order to conform to theshape of certain portions of the front and rear flaps of the blank to which gum is to be applied. As the gumming roller 133 rotates the gumming strips 143 are successively brought into contact with suitable means not shown for applying gum thereto and as the blank is fed between the roller 131 and the pads 139 on the arcuate membersl35, each gumming strip 143 applies a coating of gum to'the proper flaps of the blank. Innnediately in front of the rollers 1 31 and 133 extend upper guide rails 115 and. lower guide rails 147, theupper guide rails 145 extending toward and in line with the holding block 155, while the lower guide rails 147 extend toward and along each side of the blank holding block, hereinafter described, and adjacent thereto. Between these guide rails 145 and 147 the gunnned blank is pushed forward by the cooperating roller 131 and the pads 139 and thus introduced to the feed rollers 149 and 151, mounted in spaced pairs on shafts 153 and 109 respectively and disposed in the path of the guide rails 145 and 147. The feed rollers 151 are positively driven by chain and sprocket connection of the shaft 109 on which they are mounted, with shaft 7 111, whereas the feed rollers 149 are so located that they will be retained in position and bear by gravity on the top of the feed rollers 151.

liegistmtz'om devices.

From the 'i the table 10, the front registering fingers 157 bein operated by an ejector, which will later be described in detail, and caused thereby at the proper moment to be moved into operative position to contact with a blank as it is fed to the holding block 155.

Likewise are disposed adjacent the rear corners of the holding block 155 near blank registering lingers 163 (see Figs. 1 and 4:) which depend from and are fixedly mounted 1 on a rock shaft 165 journaled in spaced arms 167 attached to the webs 168 of the standards 13 1, secured to the table 10, while the rock shaft 165 is held against lateral displacement by suitable means 170. In order to effect and control the movement of the rear registering lingers 163, as shown in Figs. 1 and 1, a depending arm 171 is fixedly attached at its upper end to the rock shaft 165' and has pivotally attached to its lower end a connecting rod 173, which has at its free end a yoke 175 straddling the shaft 33 adjacent; its left end, between the hub of the gear 31 and a collar 177, attached to the shaft 33, carrying a cam 179 adapted to engage a cam roller 181 on the connecting rod 173. Thus at the proper moment the 02"1 179 rotated so as to engage the cam roller 181, will urge the connecting rod 173 fm-ward and cause by the consequent movement of the arm 171 and rock shaft 165 the rear registering fingers 163 to be advanced into operative position to contact with the blank after it has been fed to the holding block 155. 11s the cam 179 returns to its inoperative position the rod 173 and consequently the rear registering fingers 163 will be retracted by the action of a spring 182 having one end 183 attached to the frame of the machine and the other end 185 to the lo ver arm of the yoke 175, while the arms of the yoke 175 slide freely over the shaft 33.

Between the arms 167 extends a rail 187, as shown. in Fig- 1, attached by lugs 189 to the arms 167 and disposed in parallelism with shaft 33 and the rock shaft 165. The rail 187 is provided with outwardly extending, spaced lugs 191 having mounted therein a rock shaft 193 held against lateral displacement by suitable means 194 and carrying thereon a pair of blank holding fingers 195 spaced apart and extending in a substantially horizontal plane along and adjacent the sides of theholding block 155. For the purpose of controlling the movement of the blank holding lingers 195 similar means to thatused in operating the rear, blank registering fingers 163 previously described, is

employed, in which an upwardly extending arm 197 is fixedly attached to the rock shaft 193 at its lower end, while at its upper end it is pivotally attached to a connecting rod 199 having at its free end-a yoke 201 straddling the shaft 33 adjacent its right end and between a collar 203 and a collar 205 mounted on the shaft 33. The collar 205 is provided with a cam 20?, which is adapted at the proper moment in the rotation of the collar 205 to engage a cam roller 209, thus causing the rod 199 to move forward, as well as the arm 197, thereby turning the rock shaft 193 and causing the blank holding fingers 195 to move downwardly into operative position. At the proper moment the cam 207 returns to its inoperative position, While the rod 199 by the action of a spring 211 attached at one end 213 to the frame of the machine and the other end 215 to the upper arm of the yoke 201, will be retracted and through the action of the intervening mechanism the holding fingers 195 will be raised.

It is to be noted that the blank registering and holding operating mechanism is so timed and controlled by the rotation of the shaft UL) by the feed rollers 149 and 151 to its position on the holding block 155 the front reg-' istering fingers 157 will be advanced by the operation of the rock shaft 159,'as will be hereinafter described, and will engage the front notches between the flaps of the blank, thus arresting the blank, after which the rear registering fingers 163 will be moved forward to engage the rear notches of the blank and 00-0 erate with the front i'e isterin fingers 157 in properly centering the blank on the holding block 155. The holding fingers 195 are then timed to be lowered and engage the side flap of the blank.

At this point the suction holding means is brought into operation, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 1, by which the blank is held in position on the suction holding block 155. In order to effect the holding of the blank by suction the holding block 155 is provided with an air chamber 217 enclosed by side walls 218 and connected by the inlet pipe 219 through an intermediate air line with a suitable suction pump, not shown, the air line being under the control of the cam X on the main driving shaft 13, through its action on a distributor in the air line to the holding block 155. Leading from the air chamber 217 to the upper surface of the side Walls 218 of the holding block 155 adjacent and parallel to their edges on all tnat when the blank has been advanced sides is an outer row of spaced openings 220, while in the upper block plate 221, parallel and adjacent to the outer row of openings 220 is an inner row of openings 222 likewise leading from the air chamber 217 and staggered with relation to the outer row of openings 220, whereby practically unbroken suction may be applied over an area adjacent all edges of the holding block andon the lines of fold of the blank, by which means the blank will be securely held along the edges of the holding block 155 and the lines of fold during the subsequent folding operation. The cam X is arranged to time the op eration of the distributor in the air line, previously referred to, so as to open the air line, when the blank has been properly registered thereon by the registering fingersf157, 163 and holding fingers195, and causethe'suction thereby created to operate through the air chamber 217 and openings 220 and 222 and be applied to the blank to hold it securely on the holding block 155, particularly on the lines of fold of the blank. When the suction has beenapplied to the blank, the registering fingers 157 and 163 together with the holding fingers 195 are timed to be withdrawn from operative position by the operation of mechanism controlling the fin- .gers 157 and by the operation of the cams 179 and 207 mounted on the gumming roller shaft 33 controlling the fingers 163 and 195 in the manner previously pointed out.

Folding and pressing mechanisms.

Surmounting the table 10 at its front end is a super structure comprising a plate 223 provided with a central. transverse rectangular opening 225, above which the holding block 155 is adapted to move, while disposed centrally and adjacent the front, rear and sides of the rectangular opening 225 are openings 227 and 229, which coincide with similar openings 231 and 233 in the table 10. (See Figs. 1 and Above the plate 223 are front and rear plates 235 and 237. also side plates 239 and 241, all of which plates are aligned with and coincide with the front, rear and side edges respectively of the rectangular opening 225. The front and rear plates 235 and 237 are also provided with openings 243 which coincide with the openings 227 in the plate 223 below, while the side plates 239 and 241' are provided with openings 243 which coincide with the openings 229 in the plate below. Thus uniform, continuous passages through the table 10, plates 223,235. 237, 239 and 241 are provided by the various coincidingopenings, through which various control rods are adapted to pass, as will be hereinafter described.

Pivot-ally mounted above the front and. rear plates 235 and 237 on shafts 244 and 245, journal-ed in brackets 247 and 249, are

longitudinally extending front and rear bars 251 and respectively. which are aligned with the front and rear edges of the rectangular opening 225, while pivotally mounted above the side plates on shafts 254 and 255, jourualed in the arms of U-shaped brackets 257 and 259v are side bars 261 and 263 likewise alignfd withthe side edges of the rectangular opening 225. Extending outwardly from the front and rear bars 251 and 253 and integral therewith are front and rear creasing members or fingers 265 and 267 respectively, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 4, while likewise extending out-' wardly from the side bars 261 and 263 and integral therewith are side creasing members or fingers 269 and 271, as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4.

All the creasing members 265. 267, 269 and 271 are relatively short and, therefore. move rapidly on their pivots in a relatively small arc of 90, thereby being enabled'to move more rapidly than would be the case if they traversed. a wider are, as for example 180", in their movement, which is an important feature of the invention and by which. the speed offelding successive blanks is materially increased. The front rear and side creasing members'265. 267. 269 and 271 are timed. to turn on their pivots and to operate after the blank has been centered on the holding block 155 and suction. applied. as previously described, when the creasing members 26 267 269 and 271 are moved rapidly downward toward the holding block 155, which is timed to be lowered at that moment as will hereinafter be described. The creasing members engage the flaps of the blank as the holding block 155 descends. turning the flaps over and folding them. and then creasing the flaps as the creasing members assume a position parallel to the upper surface. of. the holding block 115.v with which the creasing members co-operate in creasing the flaps of the blank thus held and. pressed between the creasing members and the holding block 115.

In order to o erate the folding mechanism the front. rear and side-bars 251. 253. 261 and 263 carrying the creasing members are provided with spaced lugs 273. 275 277 and 279 carrying pivot pins on which are mounted at their upper ends 281. 283. 235 and 287 re pectively, control rods 289. 291, 293 and 295 connected with operative mechanism (see Fir/"s1 and which will here inafter he described in detail.

Mounted above the holding block 155 and co-operating therewith. as shown particularly in Figs. 1. 3 and 4. is a. presser 301 carried by a cross-bar 303 operating in a plane parallel to that of the table 10. The presser 301 is connected with the cross-bar 303 by a vertical rod 305, fixedly secured at its threaded upper end by lock nuts bar 303 is mounted at its ends on the vertical rods 45 and 315, which slide in tubular uprights 317 and 319 and openings 321 and 323 in the table 10, to which the tubular uprights 317 and 319 are iixedly attached. The vertical rods 45 and 315 are secured to the 'ross-har 303 by the nuts 325 and 327 engaging the threaded upper ends of the vertical rods 45 and 315, the low-er ends of which are threaded and have attached thereto internally threaded members 329, provided with spaced lugs 331 having openings adjacent their free ends in which are mounted pins 333 carrying links 335. Mounted below the table 10 in spaced lugs 337 is a rock shaft 339, which has at tached to each end an arm 341 bifurcated at its free end and havingmounted therein on a pinone of the links Thus when the rock shaft 339 is turned, through. the motion imparted thereby to the links, 33 the vertical rods 45 and 315 are raised and lowered, con sequently similar motion is in'iparted to the cross-bar 303 and the presser 301. which renders the presser reciprocatory in its movement.

The prcsser 301 substantially V-shaped in plan and has mounted on its lower face a cushion 343 adapted to engage and press firmly together the gnmmed rear and ungummed side flaps of the blank.

The holding block 15 which is located below the presser 301. both operating in parallel planes, is mounted on a vertical rod 345 which operates in an opening 347 in the table 10. The lower end of the rod 345 has attached thereto bifurcated member 349 having mounted therein. on a pin 351 the eye of the operating rod through movement. of which a reciprocatorv move ment is imparted to the holdin block 155. (see Figs. 1 and 3.)

Mechanism controlling the operation of the control rods 289, 291. 293 and 295 respectively, see Figs. 1 and which operates the bars carrying the creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271. as well as the presser 301, is located below the table 10. Thus the front control rod 239 is pivotally attached at its lower end to an arm 357 carried by a rock shaft 359 mounted in spaced lugs 361, while pivotally attached to one side of the arm 357 at 363 is the operating rod 365. The rear control rod 291 is likewise pivotally at tached at its lower end to an arm 367 carried by a rock shaft 369 mounted in spaced lugs 371, the arm 367 having pivotally attached thereto on one side at 373 the operating rod 375 The side control rod 293 is pivotally attached at its lower end to an arm 377 carried by a rock shaft 399 mounted in spaced lugs 401, the rock shaft 399 also carrying ally attached at its lower end to an arm 413;

carried by a rock shaft 415 mounted in spaced lugs 417, the rock shafts 415 and being disposed in parallel relation to each other. Fixedly mounted on the rock shafts 399 and 415 are arms 4.19 and 421 pivotally connected at their free ends by a connecting rod 423, whereby'the'movement of therock shaft 415 and co-operating parts maybe initiated and controlled by the operation "of the rock shaft 399 and the connecting rod 423, and thus the bars 261 and 263 with their side creasing members 269 and 271 may-be moved in unison. It is to be noted that the pin 407 is adapted to be locked in the proper position in the slots 405, so that the movement of the creasing members 269 and 271 may be timed and so adjusted that when dis posedin their operative position with rela tion to a blank held on the holding block 155, they will be moved to and maintained in parallelism with the upper surfaceof the holding block 155 during the 'creaiing operation. It is further to be noted that the.

arms 357 and 367 may be slotted and provided, if so desired, in a manner with lock pins similar to the arm 403, whereby lhetiming and movement of the front and rear creasing members 265 and 267 may be likewise adjusted with relation to the upper sur face of the holding block 155 and their parallelism thereto thus secured and main tained. Controlling the operation ofthe presser rock shaft 339 is an ari'n 425 mounted midway between the spaced lugs 337 on the rock shaft 339 and provided with a forked end 427, with which is pivotally connected the operating rod 429. I

The various operating rods 355, 365, 375, 411 and 429' controlling the movement, through the intervening mechanism previously described, of the holding block 155, front, rear and side creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271, and the presser 301 respectively, are fixedly connected with pitman rods 431, 433,435, 437 and 439 respectively, provided at their free endrwi'th yokes 441, 443, 445, 447 and 449 respectively, which straddle the mainfdriving shaft 13. The pitman rods are provided? with cam rollers 451, 453, 455, 457 and 459 respectively engaging the cams B, A, C, D and E carried by the main driving shaft 13, which is connected with a suitablesource of power and under operating controls not shown. Attached to the operating rods 365, 375, 411 and 429 are laterally extending cross bars 461. 463, 465, 467 and 469 provided with spiral springs 471 attached to each end of the cross-bars and secured at 473' to the 155, front creasing men'iber 205, rear creas ing member 267, side creasing members 269 and 271 and the presser 301, thereby accurately timing the sequence and duration of the flap holding, creasing and pressing operations, while the cam X properly times the ,opening and closing of the air distributor in the air line to the holding block 155 to effeet the holding by suction of a blank thereon and the discontinuance of the suction at the proper moment. 4

Therefore, in accordance with the operation of the folding and presser mechanism and their various controls and cooperating parts as hereinbefore described, when a blank has been delivered on the holding block 155, held in its elevated position, and registered as previously described, the suction force is applied and the blank is ield securely on the holding block 155, after which the holding block 155 is timed to be lowered with the blank thereon, the flaps of which are engaged and folded in their downward travel in se quence by the side creasing members 269 and 271, then by the rear creasing member 267 and the front creasing member 265 moving forward, which are timed to operate as the holding block 155 begins to descend and to move rapidly on their pivots, in a small are into a position in parallelism with the upper surface of the holding block 155 and thus adapted to fold and crease the blank. 'As the rear folding member 267 begins to move downward the presser 301 is timed to follow it and the holding block 155 as they descend, until the holding block 155 reaches its limit of travel andis held in a stationary position and the creasing members fold and crease the flaps of the blank, when the presser 301 descends into operative position between the creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 (see Fig. 4) and bears upon the gummed rear and the ungummed side flaps, the cushion 343 thereon firmly pressing and by its increased pressure securely sealing the rear and side flaps together and completing an envelope. Upon completion of the sealing operation the creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 are timed to be raised into their inoperative position, then the holding block 155 and the prcsser 301 are timed to be raised and be separated (see Fig. 3), until the holding block 155 with the envelope still held thereon by suction reaches its initial elevated position, when the ejector hereinafter described is timed'to operate. It is to be particularly noted that the movements ofthe various co-operating parts engaged in the folding and pressing operations in performing those operations and returning to their inoperative positions are timed to take place and to follow, each other rapidly at proper intervals, thusgreatly increasing the speed of production of the machine, While the particular eo-operating parts are so constructed and arranged that they render ready and efficient co-operation with each other in effecting rapid folding and pressing of the blanks.

Ejectz'ng mechanism.

Mounted on the free end of the rod 39 is a bracket 475, in the side plates 477 of which the, rod 39 is journaled and between its up per plate 479 and lower plate 481 the toothed sleeve. 43 is mounted, while the rod 39 carries between the side plates 477 the spiral gear 41 which meshes with the teeth of the toothed sleeve 43. The sleeve 43 is mounted on the vertical rod 45 and is connected with and rests on a rotating sleeve 483 mounted likewise on the verticalrod 45 and surmounting the tubular fixed upright 317, onthe up per end of which the sleeve 483 rotates (see Fig. 3), while the upper plate 479 and lower 7 plate 481 are mounted on the' rod 45 and the rotating sleeve 483 respectively. Thus the bracket 475, mounted on therod 39, the rod 45 and the rotating sleeve 483, held in a fixed position and consequently the spiral gear 41 and toothed sleeve 43 are held eonstantly in mesh. p

Mounted fixedly on the rotating sleeve 483 and supported by an annular projection thereon is a radially extending main arm 487, while pivotally attached at 489 to the ends of the main arm 487are supplemental arms 491 having fastened thereto ejector members 493 comprising a shank portion 495 and a narrowed extension or blade 497. Extending from opposite sides ofthe main arm 487 and at an acute angle thereto are'eis posed side reaches 499, fixedly attached to the main arm 487 and each connected with an ejector member 493 by a spiral spring 501 attached thereto. Adjacent each end of the main arm 487 is fastened a leaf spring 503 extending beyond each end of the main arm 487. i I

Disposed in afplane below that of the main arm 487 andsupplemental arms 491 is a substantially circular cam track 505, held in a fixed position by brackets 507 attached to the frame of the machine, and having at one end an angularly disposed extension 509 and at the other end an outwardly turned portion 511. Mounted below each supplemental arm 491 is a cam roller 513, while angularl disposed on each side of the main arm 48( is a side arm 515, each of which is provided iii with a laterally extending ear 517 the function of which will hereinafter be described.

As the main arm 487 rotates in a clockwise direction, assuming the supplemental. arms 491 and ejectors 493 to be in the operative and inoperative positions indicated at O and l. in Fig. the ejector member 493 at position O has reached its extended or operative position, when its blade 497 engages the fin ished envelope on the holding; block 155 beextension 509 in its travel the cam rollei 513 follows the extension 509 and progressively moves to the cam track 505, gradually turning the supplemental arm 491 and the ejector 493 in an arc with the pivot point at 489 and against the tension of the spiral spring 501, until they reach the inoperative position 1 shown in Fig. 4, at right angles to the main arm 487 in which position the supplemental arm 491 and the ejector 493 remain while the cam roller 513 travels along the cam track 505. On passing the outwardly turned portion 511 the cam roller 513 and the supplemental arm 491 carrying; the ejector 493 are released and through the retracting; action of the spiral spring 501. the ejector 493 is snapped into operative position parallel to the main arm 487, as previously described, the shoulder of the supplemental arm 491 engaging the leafyspring 503. while the supplemental arm 491 isthen snapped into alignment with the main arm 487 and is thus held in a fixed position by the leaf spring 503.

Just before the ejector 493 reaches a position to pick up a finished envelope the laterally extending ear 517 on the side arm 515 engages a lever 519 attached to the left end of the rock shaft 159, thereby turning the rock shaft 159 and with it the front registering fingers 157 into their inoperative position where they are thus held until the fin ished envelope has been ejected from the machine. When the ear 517 has passed along and has become disengaged from the lever 519, the rock shaft 159, through the action of a spiral spring 521 mounted thereon, is turned back and with it the front registering; fingers 157 into position to contact with a fresh blank as it is fed to the holding block 155.

It is to be noted that the movement of the ejectors 493 is so timed that they will successively come into operative position, wnen an envelope has been finished and when the creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 and the presser 801 have been withdrawn to their respective inoperative positions and the suction force has been stopped.

The making of envelopes by the machine is effected by a sequence of accurately timed and rapidly executed operations, whereby an individual envelope blank is drawn from a stack of blanks 53 at the rear of the ma chine by the suction tube 59 and delivered to the periphery of a rotary selector, com-. prising a group of spaced disks 64 and 71, one of which 64 carries a claw adapted to grip the blank and hold it against the periphery of the disk 64, whence theblank, passed by the idler rollers 101, co-operating with the disks 64 and 71 of the selector mechanism, between the guides 102 and 103, is submitted to the action of successive roy feeding devices whicl. carry the blank pidly in a substantially straight line the machine.

ta r tiroueh t cated in the path of the guides 102 and 103, and fed along to the small feed rollers 117 and 119, disposed in close proximity to the inning rollers 133, by which feed rollers 104 and 105 the blank is introduced to the gununing mechanism and adhesive applied to the proper flaps of the blank by the gumniing strips 143 carried by the arcuate membr vs 135 mounted on the gumming roller 133. The blank is then fed along by the roller 181 and the co-operating pads 139 on the arcuate members 135 to the guide rails 145 and 147, when it is taken up by the feed rollers 151 and 153, disposed in their path, and fed to the holding block 155 in line with the guide rails 145, where the blank is engaged by the registration fingers 157 and163 and hereby properly located on the folding block 155, where the blank is held by suction force, as has been hereinbefore clescribed.

The creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 are then timed to turn rapidly on their pivots, folding and creasing the blank as the holding block 155 is lowered, while the presser 301 descends, pressing and sealing certain flaps of the blank, after which folding and pressing operations the creasing memers 265, 267, 269 and 271 are raised, the pre, er 301 is raised, and the holding block 155 with the finished envelope thereon is raised to its initial position, At this point the ejector 493 is timed to come into its operative position 0 as shown in Fig. 4, en the front flap of the envelope and eject it from the machine, the ejector 493 afterwards passing to its inoperative position I, as shown in Fig. 4, when a fresh blank is fed to the holding block 155 and the sequence of folding, creasing, pressing and ejecting operations repeated. i

It is therefore, to be noted that important,

manifest advantages in effecting speed of production as well as producing properly creased and effectively gummed envelopes are obtained by the machine through the combination and properly timed co-operation of the rotary selecting mechanism, ro-

k, Thus the blank is aken by the feed rollers 104 and 105, lo-

tary straight line feeding and gumming mechanisms and rotary ejecting mechanisms, With the reciprocatory holding block 155 and reciprocatory presser 301, whereby envelope blanks may be successively and rapidly submitted to a continuous cycle of non-interfering and undelayed operations, while being fed in a straight, horizontal line through the machine. There is, therefore, a decided advantage in the cycle of continuous rotary and reciprocatory operations executed in a straight line of feed, for the reason that there is no delay or lost motion encountered in constantly advancing the blank in its straight line of feed and from one operation to another, as would be the case, if the blank should be transferred from one plane to another.

An important and very desirable advantage of the machine is in the folding and creasing mechanism, in which the relatively short creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 are adapted to move on their pivots in asmall arc of 90, whereby they are enabled to move very rapidly, to perform their functions and likewise operative positions. Thus the folding and creasing operations are performed with 'rapidity and without any delay to the continuous cycle of operations.

Another important advantage is bination of an independently presser with the folding mechanism,

the comoperable where- I by the creasing members 265, 267, 269 and 271 co-operate with the presser 301 operating therebetween to perform the folding,

creasing and pressing operations simultaneously and by their respective reciprocatory movements to readily co-operate and move into and out of their operative positions rapidly. Moreover, the cushion 3&3 possesses an, important advantage in that it serves by its additional, resilient pressure to so firmly press the gummed rear and side flaps of the will be effectively secured and sealed together quickly, which is an important and very desirable feature in a machine producing envelopes speedily in quantities.

Other important advantages of the machine are the accurate registering fingers 157 and 163, together with the holding the blank on the holding block 155 during the folding, creasing and pressing operations.

Therefore, the various co-operating mech anisms for selecting, feeding-and operating on. the blank to fold, crease, seal and form it into an envelope, as well as ejecting it, all combine to produce. a machine that possesses to return to their in-,

blank together that these flaps.

effective and quick acting suction device 59 for drawing folding the said blank comprising short,

'pivotally mounted creasing members adapted to move rapidly in a relatively small arc and arranged to co-operate with the holding means asthe latter moves relatively to the folding means tojfold and crease the blank. 2. In a machine for making envelopes, rota ry means for effecting line feed of a blank through the machine, means for receiving the blank in flat form at a folding station and for holding the blank during the folding and creasing operations, and means for folding and creasing the blank comprising inwardly movable members arranged to cooperate with the receiving and holding means to fold and crease the blank with certain wings thereof in overlapped relation.

3. In a machine for making envelopes, a

container adapted to hold a stack of envelope blanks, means for selecting a blank from the stack, means for feeding the blank through the machine, means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, means for receiving the blank from the feeding means and for holding the blank at a station of folding, means co-operating with the said holding. means for folding and creasing the blank, and a presser adapted to follow the action of the folding means tobear on certain portions of the blank lapped by the folding means. i

4. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank, and. a presser adapted to follow the action of the folding means and to bear upon certain portions of the said blank lapped by the said folding means. v

-5. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank, and a resilient presser adapted to follow the action of the folding means and to bear upon certain portions of the said blank lapped by the said folding means.

6. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for-folding the said blank, and a reciprocatory presser adapted to follow the action of the folding means and to bear upon'certain portions of the said blank lapped by the said folding means.

7. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank to lap certain previously gummed portions and a presser adapted to bear upon the blank between the said folding means.

8. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding and creasing the said blank with certain gummed Wings overlapping, and a presser adapted to bear upon the said blank while the creasing means is creasing the blank.

9. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank comprising short side, rear and front creasing members arranged to co-operate with the holding means to fold and crease the blank, the said side creasing mem bers being adapted to initially operate, followed in sequence by the rear creasing memher, and a presser adapted to follow the action of the said creasing members and to bear upon certain portions of the blank lapped by the said creasing members.

10. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank comprising short creasing mem bers arranged to co-operate With the holding means to fold and crease the blank, and a resilient presser adapted to bear upon the blank While the said creasing members are creasing the blank.

11. In a machine for making envelopes, reciprocatory means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, means for folding the said blank comprising short creasing members arranged to co-operate with the holding means to fold and crease the blank, and a reciprocatory resilient presser adapted to bear upon the blank while the said creasing members are creasing the blank.

12. In a machine for making envelopes, rotary means for effecting straight line feed of an envelope blank through the machine, means for receiving and holding the blank at a station of folding, and pivotally mounted means for folding the said blank cooperating with the holding means to fold and crease the blank.

13. In a machine for making envelopes, rotary means for feeding an envelope blank through the machine, means for receiving and holding the blank at a station of folding, and means for folding the said blank comprising short, pivotally mounted creasing members arranged to co-operate with the holding means to fold and crease the blank.

14. In a machine for making envelopes, a container for a multiplicity of envelope blanks, means for selecting the blanks one after another, means for effecting a line feed of successive blanks, means for guinming the blanks as they are fed, a platform having a reciprocatory movement at an angle to the line of feed, means for holding the body of a blank fed to the platform firmly against the surface thereof and means for turning the blank flaps inwardly to overlapped relation while so firmly held on the platform.

15. In a machine for making envelopes, means for holding an envelope blank at a station of folding, pivotally mounted means co-operating therewith for folding the said blank into the form of an envelope, and an ejector comprising a rotary arm arranged to pick up the said folded envelope at the station of folding between a loose flap and the body of the envelope.

16. In a machine for making envelopes, a container adapted to hold a stack of envelope blanks, means for selecting a blank from the said stack of blanks, means for feeding the blank through the machine,

means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, means for receiving the blank from the feeding mean; and holding the blank at a station of folding, devices for registering the blank on the holding means, means co-operating with the holding means for folding and creasing the blank, a presser adapted to follow the action of the folding means, and means for ejecting the finished envelope from the machine.

17. In a machine for making envelopes, a container adapted to hold a stack of envelope blanks, rotary means for selecting a blank from the said stack of blanks, rotary means for feeding the blank through the machine, rotary means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, means for receiving the blank from the feeding means and holding the blank at a station of folding, means cooperating with the holding means for folding and creasing the blank, a pr-esser adapted to follow the action of the folding means and to bear upon certain portions of the blank lapped by the folding means, and means for ejecting the finished envelope from the machine.-

18. In a machine for making envelopes, a container adapted to hold a stack of'envelope blanks, means for selecting a blank from the said stack of blanks, means for feeding the blank through the machine, means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, means for receiving the blank from the feeding means and holding the blank at a station of folding, devices for registering the blank on the holding means, means co-operating with the holding means for folding and creasing the blank, a resilient presser adapted to follow the action of the'folding means and to bear upon certain portions of the blank lapped by the folding means, and means for ejecting the finished envelope from the machine.

19. In a machine for making envelopes, a container adapted to hold a stack of envelope blanks, means for selecting a blank from the said stack of blanks, means for effecting straightline feed of the blank through the machine, means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, a reciprocatory platform for receiving the blank from the feeding means, suction means in the platform for holding the blank thereon, means for folding the blank mounted coextensive with the margins of the platform and arranged to co-operate with the said platform to fold and crease the blank, a resilient, reciprocatory presser adapted to follow the action of the said creasing members and to bear therebetween upon certain portions of the blank lapped by the folding means, and means for ejecting the finished envelope from the machine.

20. In a machine for making envelopes, a container adapted to hold a stack of envelope blanks, rotary means for selecting a blank from the said stack of blanks, rotary means for effecting straight line feed of the blank through the machine, rotary means in the line of feed for gumming certain flaps of the blank, a reciprocatory platform for receiving the blank from the feeding means, suction means in the platform for holding the blank thereon, devices for registering the blank on the said platform, means for folding the blank comprising short, pivotally-mounted creasing members co-extensive with the margins of the platform and arranged to co-operate with the said platform to fold and crease the blank, a resilient, reciprocatory presser adapted to follow the action of the said creasing members and to bear therebetween upon certain portions of the blank lapped by the folding means, and means for eject-ing the finished envelope from the machine.

21. In a machine for making envelopes, in combination, means for feeding blanks operation and successively, a holder to which the blanks are fed comprising a suction member, means for effecting a reciprocatory up and down movement of the holder, folding members arranged adjacent the sides of the holder and adapted to move inwardly as the holder is moved downwardly, to crease the blank, the reciprocatory movement of the holder being relatively short and adapted to present the holding surface of the suction member in its uppermost position a proximate ly on a level with the tops 0 the folder members and in its lowermost position on a level where it will effectively co-operate with the folding surfaces of the folder members to crease the blank.

22. In a machine for making envelopes, in combination, rotary devices for selecting, feeding, gumming, and ejecting envelope blanks in rapid succession, and folding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory suction holder and pivoted folder members arranged adjacent the sides of the holder, said suction holder having an upward movement to receive a blank delivered over the tops of the folder members, followed by a downward movement to a position at which the folder members move inward to crease the blank.

23. In a machine for making envelopes, in combination, automatic devices for feeding and ejecting envelope blanks in rapid succession, a folding mechanism arranged between the feeding and ejecting devices, said folding mechanism comprising a suction block arranged between inwardly movable folding members, the suction block being movable upwardly to receive a blank from the feeding device, and downwardly in timed relation with the folding members,

and a presser arranged to be actuated separately of the folding members adapted to come into contact with the folded blank between the folding members after the folding prior to the discharge of the ank'by the e ector device.

JOSEPH M. TOWNSEND. 

